As with other Bonus worlds in past Mario vs. Donkey Kong games, the levels in the Star World represent a recap of all gameplay mechanics found in the main levels, and are also designed to be more intricate and complex than those levels.

Apart from the music that plays on the map, which is an arrangement of the Star World theme from Super Mario World, the world features two soundtracks: one that is an arrangement of the Athletic theme from Super Mario Bros. 3 and plays in levels that are unevenly numbered, and another which is an arrangement of the invincibility theme from various Mario games and plays in levels that are evenly numbered. The latter was previously used for Shimmering Gold Palace levels in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars.